Company launches first clinical trial site in UK in Preston
Independent SMO (site management organisation) Panthera Biopartners has opened its first clinical trials site in Preston.
The clinical trial site, which is the first of a number of planned sites in the UK and overseas, is already involved in implementing trials on behalf of its clients from CROs (contract research organisations) and pharma companies.
Panthera Biopartners was founded by Dr Ian Smith, who previously founded Chorley-based clinical trials business Synexus, and Prof John Lyon, who was previously a global executive in CRO Covance and a serial entrepreneur.
The company is presently raising it’s “A” round of finance which will be concluded shortly.
Panthera is initially aiming at recruiting patients and running clinical trials in therapy areas which are traditionally managed in primary care including cardiac disease, allergies, migraine, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes etc.
In the new year the company is looking at NASH, or liver inflammation, in primary care and oncology and neurology for secondary care.
The Panthera team has very wide experience in providing feasibility, recruitment, running of clinical trials and retention across a broad range of therapy areas.
All the healthcare staff at the Preston Panthera site are GCP (good clinical practice) trained with considerable experience in the recruiting of patients and running of clinical trials.
Dr Ian Smith said: “It has been so encouraging talking to CROs and major pharma companies.
“They have really welcomed the entry of Panthera Biopartners as an independent SMO which incorporates new technology into the running of clinical trials and the recruitment of patients.
“We plan to have a number of sites up and running by the first quarter of 2020 with an ongoing expansion program across the UK and overseas.”
Panthera will be shortly announcing a chief executive and other senior appointments.
Further sites are planned in Glasgow and Rochdale in early 2020, with further sites under negotiation.
